WR Owens: 'I'm still not satisfied'

JAIME ARONThe Associated Press

Published Wednesday, November 26, 2008

IRVING, Texas -- Terrell Owens isn't satisfied.

He insisted Tuesday there was nothing special about his latest outing, even if his 213 yards receiving were more than his previous five games combined, his most in eight years and the second-most of his career. It also happened to come right after he complained about the team's offensive system and it came against the team where his T.O. image took root.

Yep, no big deal.

"It was just a game," he said, defiantly. "I play and things happen. It's not anything unusual for me."

He hasn't even bothered watching the highlights.

"For what?" he said. "It was nothing I ain't done before. I had 283 one time. I'm telling you, I'm still not satisfied. Still not. ... I know what I do. My friends and family, they know what I'm capable of. So it's not anything new."

And, Owens made it clear, there's more to come -- as long as the ball keeps coming his way.

"I could've been doing it all year long," he said. "I'm not saying that in a negative way. For whatever reason, the opportunities didn't present themselves. Like I said, I know what I can do once I get the opportunities and I get catchable balls."

Owens was averaging 50.5 yards per game before his breakout performance against San Francisco. He had five straight games of 38 yards or less, a stretch that included three games without quarterback Tony Romo.

Against the 49ers, Owens had catches of 75, 52 and 45 yards, three of his five longest all season. His seven catches matched a season high.

San Francisco might've helped by the way it defended Owens. Or, rather, didn't defend him.

Instead of jamming Owens at the line and having a safety take over once Owens works free -- the approach most teams have used this season -- the 49ers let cornerback Nate Clements play off Owens and chase him one-on-one. Considering the results, if foes weren't already convinced which strategy was best, this might clinch it.

Of course, Owens has faced jamming cornerbacks most of his 13-year career.

The difference this season is that his poor numbers have prompted talk that he's lost a step.

"Being that I'm 34, y'all want to say I can't get off the jam. I understand that," Owens said.

Reminded that he'll be 35 a week from Sunday, Owens said, "OK, OK, it don't matter. I'm 34 and I just had (213) yards. Now what? I'm just saying, how about that?"

Owens explained that a defense can commit itself to slowing any receiver. When it was suggested that as a highly paid receiver, he's expected to defy all kinds of coverages, Owens said that's not exactly the case.

"I get paid to catch balls," he said. "I guarantee you that if you were to get in front of me and got some help over the top, you probably could give me some trouble, too. ... I'm just saying, it's not that easy. Until you get out and play the game at real, live speed, it's not as easy as it looks."

Owens added that he has been doing some things to fight the coverage, such as being "a little bit more patient in my releases."

He's also counting on offensive coordinator Jason Garrett to find ways to get him away from coverage, such as putting him in motion.

Garrett has done that more in recent weeks. He's also mixed in a formation featuring Owens, newcomer Roy Williams and tight end Jason Witten on the same side.

"I know Jason is working hard trying to figure out ways to get me in position to beat defenses and get the ball in my hands," Owens said.

Such praise is an indication all is well between them. In an interview with Deion Sanders that aired over two parts on the NFL Network last week, Owens questioned Garrett's system.

"I think the rapport is cool," he said. "I don't feel like there's any dissension or tension or anything in our relationship."

Now that he's vented his thoughts and backed it up, Owens' line about not being satisfied -- which he used several times in a 15-minute interview -- could help the Cowboys. Dallas is 7-4 going into a game Thursday against Seattle.

Witten said he considers Owens as being hungry, not selfish, by saying he's not satisfied.

"I mean, none of us are satisfied," Witten said. "He's a competitor and I think he always is wanting more. That's what makes him who he is and I think that brings something special to your team when he does that."

Witten also brought up his own lagging stats: four catches in four games. So he was asked if he might he be considering a televised chat with Deion.